Method for Disposing of a Data Recording Means

ABSTRACT

A method for disposing of a data recording means that disposes of the medium efficiently with high security, achieving recycling, is presented. The method includes the steps of putting at least one medium to be disposed of and selected from optical recording media and magnetic recording media, in which data is recorded, into a recovery box and sealing the box with a sealing means, delivering the sealed box to an operation site, and destroying and erasing recorded data by means of an optical-data destroying device and a magnetic-data erasing device, with the recovery box maintaining sealed status.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of disposing of data recordingmedia such as optical data recording media, magnetic data recordingmedia, and data recording paper efficiently with high security.

2. Background Art

Now a variety of data recording media for recording analogue or digitaldata are in use. For example, CDs (Compact Discs), DVDs (DigitalVersatile Discs), etc. are used as optical data recording media (alsocalled “optical recording media”) for recording digital data.Magneto-optical recording disks (MOs: Magneto-Optical Discs) forrecording data using both light and magnetism are also practically used.Digital video tapes, magnetic tapes for general-purpose computers, etc.are used as magnetic data recording media (also called “magneticrecording media”) for recording digital data. Further, VHS (Video HomeSystem) video tapes, 8 mm video tapes etc. are used as magnetic datarecording media for recording analogue data.

CDs or DVDs are each intrinsically a read-only data recording mediumthat has been pressed using an original disk. However, CD-Rs (CDRecordables) or DVD-Rs (DVD-Recordables) in each of which data can berecorded only once by means of a recording device and CD-RWs (CDReWritables) or DVD-RWs (DVD ReWritables) rewritable by means of arecording device have also been put to practical use.

In disposing of a CD, a DVD, a CD-R, or a DVD-R among the optical datarecording media, recording data or the recording medium itself should bedestroyed because data recorded therein cannot be erased. In a CD-RW, aDVD-RW, or an MO, even after operation for erasing recorded data iscarried out, the data itself remains, only an index indicating positioninformation of data being erased. Therefore, in disposing of a CD-RW, aDVD-RW, or an MO, meaningless data should be written over an originaldata so as to erase the original data, thus requiring a long time forerasing the data.

Data in a magnetic data recording medium cannot be erased only byphysically and/or logically formatting the medium. Therefore, also indisposing of such magnetic data recording disk, meaningless data shouldbe written over original data so as to erase the original data,requiring a long time for erasing the data.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Therefore, the inventor proposed, in a formerly filed application(PCT/JP 2004/18465), a device for dealing with data recording media thatapplies at least one of a magnetic field and an electromagnetic wave toan optical or a magnetic recording medium so as to destroy or erase datarecorded therein. By means of the device, destruction of an optical dataor erasure of a magnetic data can be efficiently carried out in a shorttime, dispensing with the time for writing meaningless data over theoriginal data.

However, an organization managing a lot of data with high level ofsecrecy, for example, a governmental or municipal office, the police,and a hospital, should dispose of disused data recording media in theorganization itself. Therefore, even in the case that the deviceproposed in the application (PCT/JP 2004/18465) is employed, a lot oflabor and time may be required for disposing of a lot of data recordingmedia. Thus a further innovation is desired.

Adding to such optical and magnetic recording media, a lot of datarecording paper is used in offices. However, like the optical or themagnetic recording medium, disused data recording paper on which secretinformation is recorded cannot be disposed of maintaining its originalform, and should be disposed of after shredded by a shredder, requiringlabor in disposal. Thus a further innovation is desired.

On the other hand, in relation to disposal of such data recording media,recycling in which scraps are sorted according to materials and reusedis recently proposed. However, the organization managing a lot of secretdata bears too much labor for destroying or erasing data recorded in thedata recording media to share further labor for sorting scraps accordingto materials, failing to perform a systematic recycling.

The present invention is proposed in view of the above-describedsituation and has an object to provide a method for disposing of a datarecording medium so as to dispose of the medium efficiently with highsecurity and so as to achieve recycling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention to achieve the above-describedobject is a method for disposing of a data recording means including atleast one medium selected from an optical recording medium and amagnetic recording medium, including the steps of putting the datarecording means into a box, sealing the box, delivering the sealed boxto an operation site, and rendering data recorded in the data recordingmeans unreadable at the operation site by means of adata-readout-forbidding apparatus with the box sealed.

In the present invention, an optical recording medium is a mediumconsisting of a disk having pits thereon with a variety of reflectionlevels in radiation of a beam such as a laser beam, including a CD(CD-R, CD-RW) and a DVD (DVD-R, DVD-RW). A magnetic recording medium isa medium in which data is recorded as a magnetic data, including afloppy disk (trademark, FD), a video tape and a general-purpose magnetictape. An MO (magneto-optical disk) is a medium consisting of a disk onwhich a magnetic data is recorded with the disk's temperature raised bymeans of a laser beam, having both a structure belonging to an opticalrecording medium and a recording system belonging to a magneticrecording medium.

Herein, the optical and the magnetic recording media have differentmodes for recording data in the media. According to these modes, methodsfor rendering data recorded therein unreadable are different.

A CD or a DVD, belonging to an optical recording medium, is a mediumconsisting essentially of a circular disk made of plastics such as apolycarbonate with irregularities called “pits” thereon according todata, a metal layer (aluminum deposition layer), and a protecting layer.The metal layer is for reflecting a laser beam radiated toward the pitsso that a reflected beam may be read out. Therefore, method forrendering data recorded therein unreadable is a mechanical deformationof the pits and/or the aluminum deposition layer by means of, forexample, heating.

On the other hand, method for rendering data recorded in a magneticrecording medium (including a FD, a video tape, and an MO) unreadable isan erasure or disturbance of recorded data by means of application of amagnetic field.

As a step of rendering data unreadable, destruction of an optical dataand erasure of a magnetic data may be performed according to need. Onlydestruction of an optical data by an optical-data destroying device issufficient if the data recording means consists only of an opticalrecording medium, whereas only erasure of a magnetic data by amagnetic-data erasing device is sufficient if the data recording meansconsists only of a magnetic recording medium. However, performing theboth operations (i.e., destruction of an optical data and erasure of amagnetic data) is more reliable than performing either one of these. Inthe case of performing the both operations, either operation may beperformed first, or the both may be performed simultaneously.

A data-readout-forbidding apparatus comprises at least one of anoptical-data destroying device and a magnetic-data erasing device.Though either of the devices may be sufficient in some case, anapparatus including the both devices is more preferable as the apparatusis capable of disposing of any recording medium. Therefore, it is morepreferable that the optical-data destroying device and the magnetic-dataerasing device are combined to form an integrated apparatus fordisposing of the data recording means.

The inventor already proposed in the previous application(PCT/JP2004/18465) an integrated apparatus for disposing of a datarecording means formed by combination of an optical-data destroyingdevice and a magnetic-data erasing device. Therefore, by only subjectinga sealed recovery box to an apparatus for disposing of a data recordingmeans as disclosed in the application (PCT/JP2004/18465), destruction ofthe optical data and erasure of the magnetic data are performedsequentially or in parallel, thus improving efficiency of work.

In short, efficient destruction and erasure of data recorded in the datarecording means are performed and efficiency of disposal is improved.

A term “with the box sealed” includes statuses in which a tape (aseal-determining sheet) is attached onto the box for determiningbreakage of the seal, in which the box is locked up, and in which thebox is merely closed.

Subjection of a sealed recovery box to an optical-data destroying deviceinvolves heating and deformation of pits and/or an aluminum depositionlayer of a CD or a DVD by means of a microwave radiated from theoptical-data destruction device, while subjection of a sealed recoverybox to a magnetic-data erasing device involves erasure or disturbance ofmagnetic data recorded on an FD or a video tape by application of amagnetic field generated by the magnetic-data erasing device.

Subjection of a sealed recovery box to an optical-data destroying deviceand/or a magnetic data erasing device destroys and/or erases all datarecorded in the data recording means contained in the recovery box,without opening the box. Thus destruction and erasure of data isperformed certainly before breakage of seal of the recovery box,avoiding leakage of data recorded in the data recording means. In thecase of subjecting recovery boxes to the optical-data destroying deviceand/or the magnetic data erasing device, a status of each box (i.e.,before or after operation) is distinguished by a stamp such as“operation completed”.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for disposing of adata recording means comprising both an optical recording medium and amagnetic recording medium, comprising the steps of putting the datarecording means into a box, sealing the box, delivering the sealed boxto an operation site, destroying data recorded in the optical recordingmedium at the operation site by means of an optical-data destroyingdevice with the box sealed, and erasing data recorded in the magneticrecording medium by means of a magnetic-data erasing devicesimultaneously with the step of destroying data recorded in the opticalrecording medium.

Simultaneous performance of operations of destruction of an optical dataand erasure of a magnetic data renders unreadable both an opticalrecording medium and a magnetic recording medium swiftly.

In the case of erasing magnetic data in the present invention, erasureof magnetic data is preferably performed with an indicator positioned inthe vicinity of the box, the indicator having a displaying portion thatchanges its displaying status on exposure to a magnetic field having anintensity (i.e., strength) equal to or exceeding a predeterminedintensity.

Change of the displaying status of the indicator may be one, or acombination of some, selected from the following:

(1) A predetermined letter, figure, mark, pattern, and/or color isdisplayed on the indicator in advance and disappears on exposure to amagnetic field having a predetermined intensity or more.

(2) At least one selected from particular letter, figure, mark, pattern,and color appears on exposure to a magnetic field having a predeterminedis intensity or more.

(3) A predetermined letter, figure, mark, pattern, and/or color isdisplayed on the indicator in advance and changes its appearance onexposure to a magnetic field having a predetermined intensity or more.

Preferably the displaying portion of the indicator has a magnetic bodylayer and a magnetic-particle layer in which magnetic particles aredisposed to be freely movable so that distribution of the particles maybe observed from outside. An appearance of the indicator may be, forexample, a card. The display on the displaying portion should bedesigned so that the display should change in condition that it islocated in a magnetic field having a predetermined intensity or more.The predetermined intensity should be determined according to therecording medium to undergo the operation.

The indicator changes the display on the displaying portion on exposureto a magnetic field, so as to show whether the recording medium has beenexposed to a magnetic field having a predetermined intensity or more aslong as the indicator is used with the recording medium. Therefore oneperforming the erasing operation can visually infer destruction of data,so that his or her anxiety is cleared.

In the present invention, the recovery box may be made of a materialselected from various materials through which microwaves and magneticfield lines can pass. For example, a cardboard box or a wooden box maybe used. The step of sealing the box may, for example, be performed byattaching a seal-determining sheet onto the box for determining breakageof the seal, by locking up the box, or by locking up the box and byattaching a seal-determining sheet onto the box for determining breakageof the seal.

Herein, “a seal-determining sheet” denotes a sealing sheet with a set ofletters such as “NEVER BREAK THE SEAL” printed on its front surface andwith starch applied onto its back surface. The seal-determining sheet isattachable to a cardboard box or a wooden box like an ordinary sealingsheet. However, once removed, the seal-determining sheet cannot beattached again and part of the starch is detached from the sheet andremains onto the box, the starch showing letters such as “SEAL BROKEN”.

Use of a cardboard box and a seal-determining sheet as a recovery boxand a sealing means clearly shows whether seal of the recovery box isbroken. Such a configuration prevents unauthorized breakage of sealduring delivery.

An embodiment in which a wooden box is used as a recovery box, the boxis locked up by means of a lock, and the recovery box and a key for thelock are delivered separately to the operation site preventsunauthorized breakage of seal during delivery. Attachment of theseal-determining sheet onto the locked-up wooden box further ensuresprevention of breakage of seal.

Such an embodiment facilitates confirmation of delivery of the recoverybox with its seal unbroken from a source of delivery (delivery source)to the operation site. In other words, the operation site (thedestination) can guarantee to the delivery source that the operationsite has received the recovery box with its seal unbroken. Thus adelivery system in which the recovery box can be delivered between thedelivery source and the destination with its seal unbroken isestablished, which enables entrusting the destination with disposal ofdata recording media in which data with high level of secrecy arerecorded.

It is also possible to employ a simplified embodiment in which acardboard box is used as a recovery box and a general-purpose bindingtape is used as a means for sealing the box. Though such an embodimentmakes it difficult to determine whether seal of the recovery box isbroken, packaging of the box is facilitated so as to be suitable fordisposing of data recording media in which data with relatively lowlevel of secrecy are recorded.

The method for disposing of a data recording means preferably furtherincludes the below-listed steps: (1) opening the sealed box, (2)separating the data recording means into fragments according tomaterials, (3) sorting the fragments according to materials, and (4)producing recycled raw materials by exerting an operation consisting ofat least one of crushing, fusion and dissolution on at least part of thesorted fragments. The timing for opening the sealed box is (1) afterboth operations for destroying optical data and for erasing magneticdata if the both operations are performed or (2) after one of theoperations if the one is performed.

By such an embodiment, optical recording media and/or magnetic recordingmedia are disassembled and/or destroyed to be separated into fragmentsaccording to materials, i.e., plastics, metal and paper. The separatedfragments are sorted according to materials. Therefore, the sortedplastics may be crushed into pellets so as to yield a recycled material.The sorted metal may be melted to form metal pellets so as to yield arecycled metal. The sorted paper may be dissolved and refined so as toyield a recycled paper. Thus data recording media can be recycled byseparation and sorting according to materials, effectively utilizinglimited resources.

In short, according to the embodiment, materials of discarded datarecording media are recycled so as to efficiently utilize resources.

In the method for disposing of a data recording means, preferably thestep of separating the optical recording medium includes heating a metalpart of the optical recording medium by a metal-separating deviceadapted to radiate a microwave so as to separate the metal part from aplastic part.

As described above, a CD, a DVD, or an MO, which is an optical recordingmedium, includes a circular disk made of plastics such as apolycarbonate and a metal layer (aluminum deposition layer) forreflecting laser beam. Therefore, for separating the optical recordingmedium according to materials, the aluminum deposition layer should beseparated from the disk made of plastics such as a polycarbonate.

The inventor has already proposed in a prior application (Japan PatentApplication No. 2003-170145) a metal-separating device for separatingmetal from an optical recording medium. Therefore, by means of thepresent embodiment, by subjecting an optical recording medium to themetal-separating device disclosed in the prior application (Japan PatentApplication No. 2003-170145), a microwave is radiated to the opticalrecording medium so that the aluminum deposition layer can be separatedin a short time, thus improving efficiency of separation.

The present embodiment achieves easy separation of the recording mediumto materials and improvement of efficiency of disposal.

In the method for disposing of a data recording means, the step ofseparating the optical recording medium may include scraping off a metalpart of the optical recording medium by means of a scraper.

By the present embodiment, metal part of an optical recording medium caneasily removed by scraping by means of a scraper. Thus the opticalrecording medium is easily separated to materials, without aid of theabove-described metal-separating device. Metal powder formed by thescraping by means of the scraper may be collected to be a recycledmaterial.

The present arrangement achieves easy separation of the recording mediumto materials and improvement of efficiency of disposal.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method for disposing of adata recording means, the means including a data recording papercontaining thereon information to be disposed of, including the steps ofputting the data recording paper into a box, sealing the box, deliveringthe sealed box to an operation site, and dissolving at the operationsite the box together with the data recording paper contained therein,with the box sealed.

Herein, “a data recording paper”, included in a data recording means,includes all data recording paper such as a recording paper or adelivery label (or a delivery slip), written by hand or printed by meansof a personal computer. “With the box sealed” in the present aspectincludes not only attaching a tape (a seal-determining sheet) onto aclosed recovery box for determining breakage of seal but also merelyclosing the box.

By the present aspect, a sealed recovery box is dissolved at theoperation site with being sealed. Data on the data recording papercontained in the recovery box is prevented from leaking out by adissolving operation performed after confirmation of maintenance of theseal of the recovery box, thus achieving an efficient disposal of datarecording paper, ensuring security.

In the present aspect, preferably a cardboard box is used as therecovery box, in consideration of that the box is to be dissolved. Thestep of sealing the box may be performed by attaching a seal-determiningsheet onto the box. This embodiment shows clearly whether seal of therecovery box is broken, thus preventing breakage of seal duringdelivery.

The present aspect facilitates confirmation of delivery of the recoverybox from a delivery source to the operation site with its seal unbroken.In other words, the operation site (the destination) can guarantee tothe delivery source that the operation site has received the recoverybox with its seal unbroken. Thus disposal of data recording paper can beentrusted to the destination.

It is also possible to employ a simplified embodiment that uses acardboard box as a recovery box and a general-purpose binding tape as asealing means. Though such an embodiment makes it difficult to determinewhether seal of the recovery box is broken, packaging of the box isfacilitated so as to be suitable for disposing of data recording paperon which data with relatively low level of secrecy are recorded.

Preferably the method for disposing of a data recording means furtherincludes a step of refining the dissolved data recording paper and thedissolved box so as to form a recycled material.

According to the present embodiment, data recording paper and therecovery box are dissolved and refined to form a recycled material, thusachieving an efficient reuse of resources. In other words, the presentembodiment achieves recycling of discarded recording paper for efficientutilization of resources.

The method for disposing of a data recording means may further includesteps of putting the sealed box into a lockable carrying case andlocking up the carrying case, delivering (1) the carrying casecontaining the sealed box and (2) a key for releasing lock of thecarrying case separately to an operation site, instead of delivering thesealed box itself to the operation site, and taking out the sealed boxby releasing the lock of the carrying case by means of the key. Herein,the data recording means consists essentially of at least one selectedfrom an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, and datarecording paper.

Though the formerly-described embodiment in which a cardboard box isused as a recovery box and a seal-determining sheet is attached as asealing means easily determines breakage of seal during delivery and iseffective for restraining unauthorized breakage of seal of the recoverybox, it is difficult to prevent breakage of seal by the formerembodiment. According to the present embodiment, the sealed recovery boxis further put into a lockable carrying case, the carrying case islocked up, and the carrying case and its key are delivered separately,thus preventing unauthorized breakage of seal of the recovery box andefficiently avoiding leakage of a secret data during delivery.

Thus the present embodiment prevents unauthorized breakage of seal ofthe recovery box and achieves disposal avoiding leakage of data recordedin the recording means.

Preferably the method for disposing of a data recording means furtherincludes a step of issuing a certificate showing completion of disposalof the data recording means from the operation site, to which the datarecording means was delivered and at which the data recording means wasdisposed of, to a source of delivery.

The present arrangement allows the delivery source to ascertain, byreceiving a disposal certificate, that the recovery box was delivered tothe operation site, maintaining sealed status, and that the box wassubjected to at least one of the destroying and erasing operations,maintaining sealed status. Thus certain disposal of data recording meansis achieved, maintaining mutual confidence between the delivery sourceand the destination. In short, issuance of the disposal certificateenables disposal operation maintaining mutual confidence between thedelivery source and the destination.

The steps of putting the data recording means into the box and sealingthe box are preferably performed by a client who asked disposal of thedata recording means, whereas the step of delivering the sealed box tothe operation site is preferably performed by (1) the client, (2) onewho is asked for the disposal by the client, or (3) one who is asked forthe delivery by either of the former ones.

The present arrangement confirms the client, who asked the disposal, inthe belief that no data leakage will be caused, because the client hasput the data recording means into the box and has sealed the box byhimself or herself.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for disposingof a data recording means is presented, in which disposal of the mediumis entrusted to and carried out by someone other than the clientefficiently, avoiding leakage of data recorded on the medium. Accordingto another aspect of the present invention, both optical and magneticdata recording media are swiftly rendered unreadable by performingsimultaneously both destruction of optical data and erasure of magneticdata. According to still another aspect of the present invention, amethod for disposing of a data recording means is proposed, in whichdisposal of data recording paper is entrusted to and carried out bysomeone other than the client efficiently, avoiding leakage of datarecorded on the paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing procedures (a) to (e) fordelivering a recovery box from a delivery source to a destination (i.e.,an operation site) in a method for disposing of data recording media(data recording means) as an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a seal-determining sheet attached onto asurface of a recovery box;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the seal-determining sheet once attachedbeing detached;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing procedures (a) to (d) to beperformed in the operation site on a sealed recovery box delivered bythe procedures shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing procedures (a) to (g) to beperformed in the operation site on data recording media in an openedrecovery box after procedures shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 relates to another embodiment of the present invention and is aschematic diagram showing procedures (a) to (c) for delivering arecovery box from a delivery source to a destination (an operation site)in a method for disposing of data recording media;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing procedures (a) and (b) to beperformed in the operation site on a sealed recovery box delivered bythe procedures shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a basic circuit diagram of a data recording media disposalapparatus to be employed in a method of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing intensity of a magnetic field to be generatedin the disposal apparatus in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of thedisposal apparatus in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a metal-separating device forseparating metal part of an optical data recording media and to beemployed in the method of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an essential part of themetal-separating device in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a disk retainer for retaining theoptical data recording media and to be employed in the metal-separatingdevice in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an indicator for confirming dataerasure embodying the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a stratified structureof the indicator shown in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a vicinity of the displaying portion ofthe indicator shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedbelow, referring to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 areschematic diagrams showing a method for disposing of data recordingmedia as an embodiment of the present invention, according toprocedures. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing procedures for delivering arecovery box from a delivery source to a destination (an operationsite), FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a seal-determining sheet,FIG. 3 is a diagram showing procedures to be performed on a sealedrecovery box in the operation site, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showingprocedures to be performed on data recording media in an opened recoverybox in the operation site.

Processes of the disposal will be described in detail according to thedrawings.

First, a client (i.e., a delivery source) who asks the disposal depositsdata recording media 2 to be disposed of into a recovery box 95 oneafter another. The data recording media 2 includes optical datarecording media (optical recording media) such as DVDs 2 a and CDs 2 band/or magnetic data recording media (magnetic recording media) such asfloppy disks 2 c, 8 mm video tapes 2 d, VHS video tapes 2 e, andmagneto-optical recording disks 2 f. These are contained suitably in arecovery box 95. Each of the data recording media 2 may be put in therecovery box 95, enclosed in its outer casing, or without the casing.

The recovery box 95 is a cardboard box, with its bottom face sealedunopenably in advance by means of metal rivets. The recovery box 95 hasletters meaning a “Recovery Box” and “CD, DVD, FD, MO, Magnetic Tape” oneach of its faces excluding the bottom face. These are for showingclearly that the recovery box 95 is for containing data recording media2 (2 a to 2 f) excluding data recording paper, which will be describedlater.

The recovery boxes 95 of the present invention have two sizes, i.e.,large and small. A “large” recovery box has a length of 430 mm, a widthof 300 mm, and a height of 280 mm, with a capacity of accommodating amaximum weight of 20 kg, approximately. The “large” recovery box canaccommodate approximately 178 CDs with 12 cm diameter each housed in a10 mm thick plastic casing. A “small” recovery box has a length of 260mm, a width of 280 mm, and a height of 190 mm, with a capacity ofaccommodating a maximum weight of 10 kg, approximately.

After the data recording media 2 are put in the recovery box, lids ofthe recovery box 95 are closed and the box 95 is sealed by a packagingtape 96 attached lengthwise to a center of a top face of the box 95, asshown in FIG. 1(b).

Further, sealing sheets 97, 97 for determining breakage of seal (i.e.,sealing means or seal-determining sheet) are attached to both ends inthe length direction of the sealed box 95, each of the sheets crossingthe tape 96 and extending from the top face to a side face of the box95. By these procedures, the recovery box 95 is sealed, containing thedata recording media 2 to be disposed of, as shown in FIG. 1(b). Adelivery label (or delivery slip) 3 showing necessary items such asnames and addresses of the destination and the delivery source isattached to the top face of the box 95, onto which the sealing sheets97, 97 are already attached.

The sealing sheets consist each of a sealing member 97 a with a set ofletters such as “NEVER BREAK THE SEAL” printed on its front surface, asshown in FIG. 2A, and with silver-color starch 97 c applied onto itsback surface. The sealing sheets 97 can be attached onto a surface ofthe box 25 by pressing, like ordinary sealing sheets. However, if asealing sheet once attached is removed, as shown in FIG. 2B, part of thestarch 97 c applied onto the back surface of the sealing material 97 aremains, adhered, onto the box 95, the adhered starch 97 c showingletters such as “SEAL BROKEN”. A sealing sheet once removed cannot beattached onto the box 95 again by pressing.

Therefore, the attachment of the sealing sheet 97 onto the recovery box95 as shown in FIG. 1(b) prevents opening of the box 95 withoutremaining trace thereon. In other words, attachment of the sealing sheet97 enables an immediate determination on whether seal of the box 95 hasbeen broken.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1(c), the sealed recovery box 95 is housed in adedicated carrying case 98. The carrying case 98 is made of aluminum orduralumin in this embodiment and accommodates the whole recovery box 95as it is. The case may be made of reinforced plastics, instead of metal.

The carrying case 98 has a “central locking portion” 98 b and two “sidelocking portions” 98 a, 98 a arranged on both sides of the centrallocking portion 98 b. The side locking portions 98 a, 98 a each has sucha configuration that a lever 98 c mounted to the side locking portion 98a is engaged with the lid on closure of the lid and the lever isprevented from releasing the engagement by means of locking with a firstkey K1. The central locking portion 98 b has such a configuration thatan engaging ring 98 d is engaged with an engaging portion 98 e on thelid and locked up by a cylinder lock 99 inserted in an opening formed inthe engaging portion 98 e.

As shown in FIG. 1(d), the recovery box 95 sealed by attachment of thesealing sheet 97 is contained in the carrying case 98, the lockingportion 98 a, 98 a locked with the first key K1, and the locking portion98 b locked with a second key K2 for the cylinder lock 99. Then a copieddelivery label 3 of the original delivery label attached to the box 95as shown in FIG. 1(c) is attached onto a top face of the carrying case98. Keys K1, K2 are contained in a key-carrying bag 5, to which adelivery label 4 showing necessary items such as names and addresses ofthe delivery source and the destination and the number of the carryingcase 98 is attached.

Then the carrying case 98 and the key-carrying bag 5 are sent out to theoperation site separately. By the procedures described above, thesending-out operation of the data recording media 2 at the deliverysource (i.e., client) is finished.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the destination (operationsite) 8 receives the carrying case 98 and the key-carrying bag 5, whichare delivered separately. The key-carrying bag 5 corresponding to thecarrying case 98 is found out, referring to the delivery labels 3, 4attached onto the case 98 and the bag 5. Then the locking portions 98 a,98 b of the case 98 are released with the keys K1, K2 taken out from thebag 5. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the lid of the case 98 is opened so thatthe recovery box 95 contained therein is taken out, maintaining sealedstatus. The carrying case 98 will be sent back to the delivery source orreserved at the operation site 8, according to instructions from thedelivery source.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the recovery box 95 taken out from thecarrying case 98 is set to an optical-data destroying device 1 a,maintaining sealed status. The optical-data destroying device 1 a isoperated to radiate a microwave into an interior of the sealed box 95 soas to destroy optical data recorded in the optical recording media (DVD2 a and CD 2 b) contained in the box 95.

After the operation by the optical-data destroying device 1 a isfinished, the sealed recovery box 95 is taken out of the device 1 a andstamped “OPTICAL DATA DESTROYED”.

Then the recovery box 95 is set in a magnetic-data erasing device 1 b asshown in FIG. 3(d), maintaining sealed status. The magnetic-data erasingdevice 1 b is operated to apply an magnetic field into the interior ofthe sealed box 95 so as to erase magnetic data recorded in the magneticrecording media (FD 2 c, video tape 2 d, 2 e, and MO 2 f) contained inthe box 95. After the operation by the magnetic-data erasing device 1 bis finished, the sealed recovery box 95 is taken out of the device 1 band stamped “MAGNETIC DATA ERASED”.

Through the procedures described above, data recorded in any datarecording media 2 contained in the recovery box 95 is renderedunreadable as the data is destroyed or erased.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the recovery box 95 is opened and datarecording media 2 contained therein are sorted. Among the sorted datarecording media, FDs 2 c, 8 mm video tapes 2 d, VHS video tapes 2 e, andMOs 2 f are disassembled, separated and sorted into plastic, metal, andpaper fragments, etc., as shown in FIGS. 4(b) and (c). The cases inwhich the data recording media 2 are enclosed are also separated intoplastic and paper fragments, etc.

Among the separated materials, plastics are crushed to form pelletssuitable for recycling, metals are melted and re-formed to form metalpellets suitable for recycling, and paper is dissolved and refined to bea recycling material.

As shown in FIG. 4(d), among the sorted data recording media 2, DVDs 2 aand CDs 2 b are held by a dedicated disk retainer 9. The disk retainer 9with a number of DVDs 2 a and CDs 2 b is set to a metal-separatingdevice 7, as shown in FIG. 4(e). Then the metal-separating device 7 isoperated to radiate a microwave to the DVDs 2 a and CDs 2 b so as tomelt metal layers on the DVDs 2 a and CDs 2 b so that the melted metalis separated from plastic members.

By this operation, the DVDs 2 a and CDs 2 b are separated into plasticmaterial P (for example, polycarbonate) and melted metal material M,each material collected to be used as recycling material.

As described above, by the method of disposing of data recording mediain the present embodiment, a recovery box 95 sealed at the deliverysource is delivered to the operation site (i.e., destination), and asealed status is maintained until data in the data recording media 2contained in the box 95 is rendered completely unreadable. This enablesa safe disposal of data recording media 2 containing data with highlevel of secrecy, preventing data leakage.

Data recording media 2 that have been subjected to operation fordestroying or erasing data can be separated and sorted according tomaterials and processed to form a shape suitable for recycling, thusachieving systematic recycling operations, which cannot be achieved inorganizations of the delivery sources.

In the present embodiment, the sealed recovery box 95 is delivered whilebeing contained in the carrying case 98. However, the subject inventionis not restricted by such a form of embodiment.

For example, the sealed recovery box 95 may be delivered without beingcontained in the case 98. By such a form of embodiment, completeprotection of the box 95 from unauthorized seal breakage is notachieved, but the seal breakage is restrained by attachment of thesealing sheet 97, as breakage of seal is immediately determined.

Alternatively, the recovery box 95 may be delivered in a simplified formin which the box 95 is sealed with only a packaging tape 96. Such a formmay be employed in delivering data recording media with low level ofsecrecy, though breakage of seal is difficult to be determined in thecase.

Though a cardboard box is employed as a recovery box 95 in the presentembodiment, a wooden box or a plastic case through which anelectromagnetic wave or a magnetic field line can pass may be used asthe recovery box. Such wooden box or plastic case may have aconfiguration in which the box or case is lockable so as to preventunauthorized breakage of seal during delivery.

The operation site (destination) 8 may issue, to the delivery source, adisposal certificate showing completion of disposal operation uponcompletion of the disposal of the recovery box 95. The delivery sourcecan be assured that disposal and recycling operations are carried out,avoiding data leakage, by the issuance of such a certificate.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, procedures for disposal of opticalrecording media 2 a, 2 b and/or magnetic recording media 2 c to 2 f aredescribed. However, the subject invention is not limited to disposal ofsuch data recording media 2, but may also be used in disposal of datarecording paper (data recording media) 6 on which data are recorded.

Procedures for disposing of data recording paper 6 are described below,referring to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing procedures for delivering arecovery box from a delivery source to a destination (an operation site)and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing procedures to be performed on a sealedrecovery box at the operation site.

At first, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a client who asks the disposal (i.e.,the delivery source) pack the recovery box 93 with data recording paper6 a and delivery labels 6 b to be disposed of.

The recovery box 93 is a cardboard box, with its bottom face sealedunopenably in advance by means of metal rivets. The recovery box 93 hasletters meaning a “Recovery Box” and “Data Recording Paper” on each ofits faces excluding the bottom face. These are for showing clearly thatthe recovery box 93 is not identical with the above-described recoverybox 95 for containing data recording media 2 (2 a to 2 f), because therecovery box 93 is to be dissolved at the operation site, together withthe paper 6 a and labels 6 b contained therein.

The recovery boxes 93 of the present embodiment have two sizes, i.e.,large and small, similarly to the recovery boxes 95, as shown in FIG. 1,of the former embodiment. A “large” recovery box can accommodate at most900 sheets of A4 size regular paper.

After data recording paper 6 to be discarded is packed into the recoverybox 93, lids of the box 93 are closed and the box 93 is sealed by apackaging tape 96 attached lengthwise to a center of a top face of thebox 93, as shown in FIG. 5(b).

Further, sealing sheets 97 for determining breakage of seal (i.e.,sealing means) are attached to both ends in the length direction of thesealed box 93, each of the sheets crossing the tape 96 and extendingfrom the top face to a side face of the box 93. By the proceduresdescribed above, the recovery box 93 is sealed, containing the datarecording paper 6 to be discarded, as shown in FIG. 5(b).

A delivery label 3 showing necessary items such as names and addressesof the delivery source and destination is attached to the top face ofthe box 93, onto which the sealing sheets 97, 97 are already attached.Then, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the sealed recovery box 93 is forwarded tothe operation site 8. By the procedures described above, forwardingoperation of the data recording paper 6 at the delivery source (client)is completed.

At the destination (operation site) 8, as shown in FIG. 6(a), therecovery box 93 is immersed, maintaining sealed status, in a dissolvingliquid 46 filled within a dissolution tank 45 so that the box 93 isdissolved together with the data recording paper 6 contained therein.Cellulose originated from dissolved data recording paper 6 etc. isrefined so as to form recycled material, as shown in FIG. 6(b).

Before the box 93 is put into the tank 45, the delivery label attachedto the box 93 is removed from the box 93 and reserved so as to recordthe fact that dissolution is performed.

As described above, by the method of the present embodiment fordisposing of data recording media, the recovery box 93 sealed at thedelivery source is delivered to the operation site 8 (i.e., thedestination) and is dissolved, maintaining sealed status. This enables asafe disposal of data recording paper 6 containing data with high levelof secrecy, preventing data leakage.

The dissolved data recording paper 6 is refined so as to be in a formsuitable for recycling, thus enabling a systematic recycling, whichutilizes resources.

In the present embodiment, the sealed recovery box 93 is delivered tothe operation site 8 without being contained in a case. However, thesealed recovery box 93 may be delivered while being contained in theabove-described lockable carrying case 98 (as shown in FIG. 1). By sucha form of embodiment, protection of the box 93 from unauthorized sealbreakage during delivery is achieved, thus enabling safe delivery anddisposal of data recording paper 6 having high level of secrecy.

Also in the present embodiment, the operation site (destination) 8 mayissue, to the delivery source, a disposal certificate showing completionof the disposal upon completion of the dissolution of the recovery box93. The delivery source is assured, by the issuance of such acertificate, that disposal and recycling operations are carried out,avoiding data leakage.

Then specific forms of the above-described embodiments of anoptical-data destroying device 1 a, a magnetic-data erasing device 1 b(as shown in FIGS. 3(c) and (d)), and a metal-separating device 7 willbe described below.

The optical-data destroying device 1 a (as shown in FIG. 3(c)) and themagnetic-data erasing device 1 b (as shown in FIG. 3(d)), being discretedevices in the former embodiment, are described hereinafter as anintegrated data recording media disposal apparatus 1 having bothfunctions of optical data destruction and magnetic data erasure.

FIG. 7 is a basic circuit diagram of the data recording media disposalapparatus 1 to be employed in the present invention, FIG. 8 is a graphshowing intensity of a magnetic field to be generated in the apparatus 1in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showingconfiguration of the disposal apparatus 1 in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the disposal apparatus 1 is generally made up ofportions consisting of a magnetic field generator 20, an electromagneticwave generator 30, a controller 50, and a transformer (power supply) 11for supplying an AC power to the other portions.

As shown in FIG. 7, the transformer 11 is connected to a commercialpower source (AC100V) and for generating AC voltages necessary for theother portions. The transformer 11 has a primary winding 12 connected tothe power source (AC 100V), a secondary winding 13 connected to thefield generator 20, further secondary windings 14 and 15 connected tothe electromagnetic wave generator 30, and a still further secondarywinding 16 connected to the controller 50. The primary winding 12 of thetransformer 11 is connected to a power plug C via a power switch SW anda fuse F.

The field generator 20 has a function of generating an attenuatingalternating magnetic field by discharging electricity stored in acapacitor 22 through an electrical coil 23, as shown in FIG. 7. Thefield generator 20 has a bridge diode 21 connected to the secondarywinding 13 so that a rectified output of the diode 21 is supplied to thecapacitor 22 via a “charging contact” 25. Both ends of the capacitor 22are connected, via a “polarity reverser” 27, to a circuit containing areactor 26, the coil 23, and an “excitation contact” 24 in series.

A polarized electrolytic capacitor is used as the capacitor 22. Thereactor 26 connected in series to the coil 23 has a function ofstabilizing current applied to the coil 23. The polarity reverser 27,consisting of two contacts 27 a and 27 b switched in conjunction witheach other, has a function of reversing direction of current flowingfrom the capacitor 22 to the coil 23 by switching the contacts 27 a and27 b. Opening and closing of the contacts of the field generator 20,i.e., the discharging contact 25, the excitation contact 24, and thecontacts 27 a and 27 b of the polarity reverser 27, are controlled bythe controller 50 described below.

The field generator 20 generates an attenuating alternating magneticfield by operations described below. At first, with the excitationcontact 24 opened, the charging contact 25 is closed so as to charge thecapacitor 22 until a charged voltage of the capacitor 22 reaches thepeak value of full-wave rectified voltage by the bridge diode 21. Timeduration required for the charging is determined by the capacitance ofthe capacitor 22 and a winding resistance of the secondary winding 13 ofthe transformer 11.

After completion of charging of the capacitor 22, the charging contact25 is opened. At this moment, the capacitor 22 is fully charged, withits terminal voltage substantially equal to the peak value of full-waverectified voltage by the bridge diode 21. Then, closure of theexcitation contact 24 makes a rapid discharge of the electricity chargedin the capacitor 22 through the coil 23. Herein, the capacitor 22 andthe coil 23 are connected in series so as to form a series resonantcircuit. Therefore, with the excitation contact 24 closed, anattenuating alternating current “i” flows through the coil 23, loweringits wave height with duration of time, as shown in FIG. 8.

A cycle time of the attenuating alternating current “i” flowing throughthe coil 23 is generally determined by the capacitance of the capacitor22 and an inductance of the coil 23, whereas its attenuation rate isdetermined by an internal resistance of the capacitor 22 and aresistance component of the coil 23. In other words, closure of theexcitation contact 24 brings about the attenuating alternating current“i” through the coil 23, as shown in FIG. 8, having a cycle time and anattenuation rate determined by the series resonant circuit consistingessentially of the capacitor 22 and the coil 23. The current attenuates,turning its polarity, until its value reaches zero.

Thus closure of the excitation contact 24 generates, around the coil 23,the attenuating alternating magnetic field, in which magnetic fluxdensity gradually decreases, reversing its poles, as time passes. Themagnetic field generator 20 generates the attenuating alternatingmagnetic field based on the above-described principle and erases amagnetic data recorded on the magnetic recording medium by means of thegenerated attenuating alternating magnetic field. The magnetic fieldgenerator 20 of the disposal apparatus 1 is a circuit that does notgenerate a strong magnetic field for a long time but generates theattenuating alternating magnetic field whose magnetic flux densitydecreases as time passes.

The electromagnetic wave generator 30 has a function of generating anelectromagnetic wave of a microwave band. The wave generator 30, asshown in FIG. 7, has a magnetron 31 whose cathode (heater) 31 a isconnected to the secondary winding (heater winding) 14 of thetransformer 11 via heater current-carrying contact 36. The secondarywinding 15 of the transformer 11 is connected to a voltage doublerrectifier circuit 38 formed by a capacitor 32 and a diode 33. A positiveoutput voltage of the voltage doubler rectifier circuit 38 is connectedto an anode 31 b of the magnetron 31 via a current-limit resistance 34,whereas a negative output voltage of the circuit 38 is connected to acathode 31 a of the magnetron 31.

The present embodiment employs a grounded anode circuit in which theanode 31 b of the magnetron 31 is grounded. A surge absorber 35 isconnected in parallel with the diode 33 of the rectifier circuit 38 soas to absorb a surge voltage generated in the circuit, thus protectingthe diode 33 from destruction. Opening and closing of both contacts inthe wave generator 30, i.e., the heater current-carrying contact 36 andan anodal current-carrying contact 37, are controlled by the controller50, which will be described below.

The electromagnetic wave generator 30 generates an electromagnetic wavethrough the following operations. First, the heater current-carryingcontact 36 is closed so as to heat the cathode (heater) 31 a of themagnetron 31. This enables the magnetron 31 to emit thermal electronsfrom the cathode 31 a. Then, closure of the anodal current-carryingcontact 37 applies a rectified output voltage of the rectifier circuit38 to the anode 31 b of the magnetron 31, so that the magnetron 31initiates an oscillation so as to radiate an electromagnetic wave of apredetermined strength from its antenna 31 c. The present embodimentuses a magnetron 31 with an oscillating frequency of substantially 4.3GHz, the electromagnetic wave radiated from the antenna 31 c being amicrowave with a frequency of substantially 4.3 GHz and a wave length ofsubstantially 7 cm.

The wave generator 30 generates a microwave by such circuitconfiguration and has a function of destroying recorded data by applyingthe generated electromagnetic wave to optical recording media. Thepresent embodiment uses the magnetron 31 having an oscillating frequencyof substantially 4.3 GHz, but may use one having an oscillatingfrequency of substantially 2.45 GHz. By means of a magnetron 31 havingone of such frequencies, optical data recorded on optical recordingmedia are efficiently destroyed.

The controller 50, as shown in FIG. 7, includes a constant-voltagecircuit 51 and a controlling circuit 52, and has a function ofcontrolling opening and closing of each contact provided in the fieldgenerator 20 and the wave generator 30.

The constant-voltage circuit 51 is adapted to supply a stabilized DCvoltage to the controlling circuit 52 upon receipt of an AC voltage ofthe secondary winding 16 of the transformer 11.

The controlling circuit 52 is a circuit adapted for a digital controland provided with a CPU. Either of an operating switch 55 and a modesetting section 54, which includes a magnetic field generating switch 54a, an electromagnetic wave generating switch 54 b, and a magnetic fieldand electromagnetic wave generating switch 54 c, is connected to thecircuit 52.

Further, the controlling circuit 52 has a configuration capable ofseparately controlling opening and closing of a plurality of contactsaccording to a program manipulation, the contacts corresponding to thecontacts of the field generator 20 and the wave generator 30 bothdescribed above.

The present embodiment uses mechanically-linked alternate push switchesas the switches 54 a to 54 c of the mode setting section 54, and whenone of the switches is pushed in so as to be closed, the other twoswitches project to be opened. Further, a momentary-type push switch isused as the operating switch 55.

The controlling circuit 52 has such a controlling function as performingprogram manipulations in response to a setting of the mode settingsection 54 and an operation of the operating switch 55 and as generatinga magnetic field and/or an electromagnetic wave by an opening andclosing control of each of the contacts of the field generator 20 andthe wave generator 30 described above.

The disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the fieldgenerator 20, the wave generator 30, and the controller 50 each havingthe above-mentioned function, and a circuit block 10 specified by adashed line in FIG. 7 is integrally formed on a circuit board or thelike.

Next, a structure of the disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodimentwill be described, making reference to FIG. 9. The disposal apparatus 1includes a container 60 and an outer casing 66 adapted to cover thecontainer 60 from outside.

The container 60, as shown in FIG. 9, is a square-shaped box made of anon-magnetic material and having a cavity therewithin, its front facebeing opened, its left, right, top, bottom, and rear faces being closed.In the present embodiment, the container 60 is made of a copper(non-magnetic material) plate. The container 60 has the magnetron 31secured to its central part of the top face. An antenna 31 c (see FIG.7) of the magnetron 31 protrudes into the inner cavity of the container60. Wirings L1 for applying a heater voltage and an anode voltage areconnected to the magnetron 31, the wirings L1 having a connector 68connected to a distal end thereof.

The container 60 has an outer wall around which the coil 23 is woundbackward from its front in such a manner as sandwiching the magnetron 31from both front and rear, both ends of the coil 23 being connected to aconnector 69 via wirings L2. In the present embodiment, an enamel wireis used as the coil 23 and an insulating sheet (not shown) is interposedbetween the coil 23 and the outer periphery of the container 60.

The container 60 has a flange 61 made of a magnetic material at aperiphery of the front face thereof and a door 62 mounted on the flange62 so as to cover the front face of the container 60. Specifically, aleft edge of the door 62 is pivoted to a left end portion of the flange61, so as to be openable and closable.

In the present embodiment, iron (magnetic material) plates are used asboth the flange 61 and the door 62. The door 62 has a handle 63 at aright end of a front face thereof, and a hook 64 protruding backwardadjacent to the handle 63. The flange 61 also has an engagement hole 65corresponding to the hook 64.

As just described, the container 60 is a box having an opening of thefront face made of copper (non-magnetic material), at which opening theflange 61 made of iron (magnetic material) plate is provided, to whichflange 61 the door 62 made of iron (magnetic material) plate is openablyand closably mounted. An electromagnetic wave absorbing member 67 isattached to an entire rear face of the flange 61. The present embodimentuses as the absorbing member 67 a rubber electromagnetic wave absorbingmember that is made by dispersing an iron material havingelectromagnetic wave absorbability in a synthetic rubber.

The outer casing 66 is a box made of a magnetic material larger than thecontainer 60, part of its front face being opened, its left, right, top,bottom, and rear faces being closed, so as to have a shape capable ofaccommodating the container 60. Electromagnetic wave absorbing members67, each similar to that attached to the flange 61, are attached to anentire inner surface of the casing 66. Specifically, the casing 66 is abox made of iron with the electromagnetic wave absorbing members 67attached to the entire inner surface.

A circuit case 17 housing therein the circuit block 10 shown in FIG. 7is mounted onto the casing 66. The circuit case 17 provides a powerswitch SW, the operating switch 55, and three switches 54 a, 54 b, and54 c of the mode setting section 54 and has an AC code with an AC powerplug C pulled out of a rear face of the case 17.

In assembling the disposal apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 9, theconnector 68 connected to the magnetron 31 and the connector 69connected to the coil 23 are connected to connectors (not shown)provided in the case 17 through openings (not shown) formed on the upperface of the casing 66. Then, the container 60 is inserted into thecasing 66, whereupon the flange 61 provided at the container 60 isbrought into contact with and secured to an opening edge (i.e., frontedge) of the casing 66.

In the disposal apparatus 1 assembled in this way, the door 62 of thefront face is openable and closable using the handle 63, so that therecovery box is readily taken in and out of the container 60 by openingthe door 62.

Then, operations of the disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodimentwill be described, making reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 8, and 9. Operationsfor erasing magnetic data are first to be described.

First, the power switch SW is turned on and the field generating switch54 a is pushed in, so as to set to a magnetic field generating mode.Then, the door 62 is opened so that the recovery box 95 containing datarecording media 2 is housed in the container 60. After closure of thedoor 62, the operating switch 55 is pushed.

Upon actuation of the operating switch 55, the controlling circuit 52controls the charging contact 25, the excitation contact 24, and thecontacts 27 a and 27 b of the polarity reverser 27 of the fieldgenerator 20 in reference to a closing state of the field generatingswitch 54 a of the mode setting section 54. In the magnetic fieldgenerating mode, the heater current-carrying contact 36 and the anodalcurrent-carrying contact 37 of the wave generator 30 remain open.

The controlling circuit 52 switches both the contacts 27 a and 27 b ofthe polarity reverser 27 to one side, so as to close the chargingcontact 25 for a predetermined period of time. Thereby, as describedabove, the capacitor 22 is charged until its charging voltage reachesthe peak value of full-wave rectified voltage by the bridge diode 21.After a predetermined period of time from closure of the chargingcontact 25, the controlling circuit 52 opens the charging contact 25followed by closure of the excitation contact 24. Thereupon, anelectrical charge stored in the capacitor 22 is discharged via is thecoil 23, to which the above-mentioned attenuating alternating current“i” shown in FIG. 8 is applied to generate an attenuating alternatingmagnetic field.

As shown in FIG. 9, the coil 23 is wound around the container 60 made ofa non-magnetic material (copper plate), the outside of the container 60being covered with the outer casing 66 made of a magnetic material (ironplate), the front face of the container 60 being covered with the door62 made of a magnetic material (iron plate). Consequently, theattenuating alternating magnetic field generated in the coil 23 isinduced into the inner cavity of the container 60 without being weakenedby the container 60 and magnetic field lines leaking out of thecontainer 60 are shielded by the casing 66, the flange 61, and the door62.

Thereby, the attenuating alternating magnetic field is applied to thecontainer 60. Therefore, the magnetic recording media 2 c to 2 fcontained in the recovery box 95 are exposed to the attenuatingalternating magnetic field so that magnetic data recorded therein iserased.

After a predetermined period of time from closure of the excitationcontact 24, the controlling circuit 52 opens the excitation contact 24to complete a series of processes for erasing magnetic data in themagnetic recording media.

The disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment achieves erasure ofmagnetic data in the magnetic recording media housed in a recovery box95 in a short time. Further, magnetic field lines leaking out areminimized, avoiding undesired effects associated with leaking magneticfield lines.

The controlling circuit 52 makes reverse connection of the contacts 27 aand 27 b provided at the polarity reverser 27 of the field generator 20every time of operations for the magnetic field generating mode.Specifically, discharge polarity from the capacitor 22 to the coil 23 isreversed every time of operations for the magnetic field generatingmode.

Consequently, even when a magnetic field is induced in the casing 66,which is made of a magnetic material, by a magnetic field generated inthe coil 23, resulting in generation of mechanical repulsive orattractive force between the coil 23 and the casing 66, the reverseconnection by the polarity reverser 27 reverses the mechanical force ineach operation. That prevents displacement of the coil 23 relative tothe container 60.

Operations for destroying optical data recorded on optical recordingmedia are next to be described below.

First, the power switch SW is turned on and the wave generating switch54 b of the mode setting section 54 is pushed in so as to set to anelectromagnetic wave generating mode. Then, the operating switch 55 ispushed.

Upon actuation of the operating switch 55, the controlling circuit 52controls the heater current-carrying contact 36 and the anodalcurrent-carrying contact 37 of the wave generator 30 in reference to aclosing state of the wave generating switch 54 b of the mode settingsection 54. In the electromagnetic wave generating mode, the chargingcontact 25 and the excitation contact 24 of the field generator 20remain open.

The controlling circuit 52 closes the heater current-carrying contact 36to heat the cathode (heater) 31 a of the magnetron 31. That allows thecathode 31 a to be ready to emit thermal electrons. After apredetermined period of time from closure of the heater current-carryingcontact 36, the controlling circuit 52 closes the anodalcurrent-carrying contact 37. Thereby, an anode voltage is applied to theanode 31 b from the voltage doubler rectifier circuit 38, so as toradiate a microwave of substantially 4.3 GHz from the antenna 31 c intothe container 60.

Since the container 60 is made of a non-magnetic material (copperplate), the microwave of substantially 4.3 GHz radiated thereintoreflects on the inner surface of the container 60, without leaking out.Further, the front face of the container 60 covered with the door 62made of a magnetic material (iron plate) prevents the microwave radiatedinto the container 60 from leaking out. Still further, even in theunlikely event that the electromagnetic wave leaks out of the container60, the wave absorbing members 67 attached to the inner surface of theouter casing 66 and the rear face of the flange 61 absorb theelectromagnetic wave, thereby preventing the electromagnetic wave fromleaking out of the casing 66.

The electromagnetic wave radiated into the container 60 is applied tothe optical recording media (DVD 2 a, CD 2 b) contained in the recoverybox 95, so as to deform by heat a vapor-deposited aluminum film or pitsformed in the media, achieving destruction of optical data in a shorttime. As described above, the electromagnetic wave leaking out of thecontainer 60 is absorbed by the electromagnetic wave absorbing members67, so that the electromagnetic wave leaking out of the disposalapparatus 1 is minimized.

After a predetermined period of time from closure of the anodalcurrent-carrying contact 37, the controlling circuit 52 opens the anodalcurrent-carrying contact 37 and the heater current-carrying contact 36to complete a series of processes for destroying data in the opticalrecording media.

The disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment achieves destructionof optical data in optical recording media 2 a, 2 b contained in therecovery box 95 in a short time. Further, an electromagnetic waveleaking out is minimized, avoiding danger to the human body.

Operations for erasing magnetic data recorded in an optical magneticdisk 2 f are next to be described.

First, the power switch SW is turned on and the magnetic field andelectromagnetic wave generating switch (field-and-wave generatingswitch) 54 c of the mode setting section 54 is pushed in, so as to setto a magnetic field and electromagnetic wave generating mode. Then, theoperating switch 55 is pushed.

Upon actuation of the operating switch 55, the controlling circuit 52controls the charging contact 25 and the excitation contact 24 of thefield generator 20 and also controls the heater current-carrying contact36 and the anodal current-carrying contact 37 of the wave generator 30in reference to a closing state of the field-and-wave generating switch54 c of the mode setting section 54.

Specifically, setting to the magnetic field and electromagnetic wavegenerating mode by the mode setting section 54 simultaneously executesthe magnetic field generating mode and the electromagnetic wavegenerating mode by means of the controlling circuit 52, with the effectthat the attenuating alternating magnetic filed is applied, andsimultaneously the microwave having a frequency of substantially 4.3 GHzis radiated, into the container 60.

Thereby, the optical magnetic disk 2 f contained in the recovery box 95in the container 60 is heated by the radiated microwave and degaussed bythe applied attenuating alternating magnetic field in a short time, sothat recorded magnetic data is erased. Also in the magnetic field andelectromagnetic wave generating mode, as described above, magnetic fieldlines and an electromagnetic wave are prevented from leaking out of thedisposal apparatus 1, so that safety is ensured.

The disposal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment achieves erasure ofmagnetic data recorded in the optical magnetic disk 2 f contained in therecovery box 95 in a short time. Further, the electromagnetic waveleaking out is minimized, avoiding danger to the human body.

The description above illustrates the disposal apparatus 1, but thepresent invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, andmay employ an additional configuration for safety and for operation.

For example, the above-mentioned embodiment only closes the door 62 withthe hook 64 of the door 62 engaged with the engaging hole 65 of theflange 61. However, it is also possible to have a configuration providedwith a detection switch at the engaging hole 65 so that the controllingcircuit 52 forces to halt generation of a magnetic field and anelectromagnetic wave while the door 62 is open. This configurationprevents a magnetic field or an electromagnetic wave from leaking outeven if the door 62 is opened by mistake while a data recording means isundergoing operation, achieving enhanced safety.

Further, for example, it is also possible to improve the usability by aconfiguration in which indication by a pilot lamp is performed whileeither a magnetic field or an electromagnetic wave is outputted afteractuation of the operating switch 55.

Next, an embodiment of a metal-separating device 7 for separating metalpart of the optical recording media 2 a, 2 b will be hereinafterdescribed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the metal-separating device 7, FIG. 11is a perspective view showing an essential part of the metal-separatingdevice 7 in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a diskretainer for retaining optical data recording media.

The metal-separating device 7 in the present embodiment consists mainlyof an operation chamber 85 for accommodating optical recording media, afirst microwave radiator 73 and a second microwave radiator 74 both forradiating a microwave to the optical recording media in the operationchamber 85, a lean-oxygen maintaining unit 78 for maintaining an innerspace of the operation chamber 85 at an atmosphere of low oxygendensity, and a magnetic field generator 70 consisting mainly of a coilwound around the whole chamber 85.

The operation chamber 85 is made of stainless steel (a nonmagneticmetal), which prevents a microwave radiated thereinto from leaking outand which passes an electromagnetic field from the field generator 70wound around the chamber 85 so that the field reaches the recordingmedia 2 a, 2 b (i.e., objects to be disposed of).

The operation chamber 85 is of a cylindrical shape so that opticalrecording media 2 a, 2 b retained by a disk retainer 9 may pass throughthe chamber 85 in back-and-forth direction (right and left direction inthe figure). Front and back doors 71, 72, both made of stainless steel,are mounted to both open ends of the chamber 85 so as to close thechamber 85.

The doors 71, 72 close the chamber 85 while a microwave is radiatedtoward the recording media 2 a, 2 b, so as to maintain the inner spaceof the chamber 85 at an atmosphere of low oxygen density as well as toprevent the microwave from leaking.

The first and second microwave radiators 73, 74 share a microwavegenerator 75 using a magnetron as well as a branching filter (not shown)for branching a microwave generated by the generator 75. The radiators73, 74 have waveguides 76, 77, respectively, for guiding branchedmicrowaves to centers of right and left walls of the chamber 85. Lengthsof the tubes 76, 77 are designed to be different so that the microwaveshaving reached the optical recording media 2 a, 2 b have differentphases.

The microwave generator 75 has a microwave intensity controller 84 forcontrolling intensity of generated microwave. The microwave intensitycontroller 84 changes voltage applied to the microwave generator 75 soas to change the intensity of the generated microwave and that of amicrowave radiated to the optical recording media.

The lean-oxygen maintaining unit 78 consists mainly of a gas pipe 81,another gas pipe 79, and gas valves 82, 80. The gas pipe 81 is used inintroducing carbon dioxide gas into the chamber 85 from a gas cylinder(not shown) storing carbon dioxide gas, the gas pipe 79 is used indischarging air from the chamber 85, and gas valves 82, 80 are connectedto the gas pipes 81, 79, respectively, for closing and opening the pipesso as to control flow of gas or air.

The present embodiment employs carbon dioxide gas, which is heavier thanair. Therefore, carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the chamber 85through the pipe 81 connected to a lower part of the chamber 85, whereasair in the chamber 85 is discharged therefrom through the pipe 79connected to an upper part of the chamber 85.

The magnetic field generator 70 consists mainly of a coil wound a numberof times around the entire chamber 85 in a direction crossing toconveyance direction of the optical recording media.

The magnetic field generator 70 has a field intensity controller 83 forcontrolling intensity of a generated magnetic field. The field intensitycontroller 83 changes a voltage applied to the coil (i.e., fieldgenerator 70) so as to change intensity of the generated field. Acapacitor (not shown) is connected to both ends of the coil and inseries with the coil so as to absorb surge on supplying electricity tothe coil.

As shown in FIG. 12, the disk retainer 9 consists mainly of four holders90 each having serrated grooves formed thereon, a receiving tray 91, andsupporters 92 for supporting the holders 90 above the tray 91. Thereceiving tray 91 is arranged below the holder 90 for receiving metalmelt and flown out from the optical recording media 2 a, 2 b. Theholders 90 are supported parallel to an upper face of the tray 91 by thesupporters 92.

The holders 90 are arranged so that a distance from a bottom of any ofthe grooves to that of an opposing groove is shorter than a diameter ofan optical recording medium 2 a or 2 b to be disposed of, so as toprevent the recording medium from dropping when the recording medium isinserted into grooves of adjoining holders 90, 90.

The grooves are formed substantially vertical and each has a widthslightly wider than a thickness of the recording medium 2 a or 2 b.

The holders 90, the tray 91, and the supporters 92 are each made ofceramics, which is not affected by a microwave.

The optical recording medium 2 a or 2 b is retained by the disk retainer9 by only insertion of the recording medium 2 a or 2 b between opposinggrooves of adjoining holders 90, 90. Tilt of the recording medium 2 a or2 b is restricted by the grooves and drop of the medium 2 a or 2 b isprevented by the distance between the bottoms of the grooves. Thus thepresent embodiment holds each of the optical recording media 2 a, 2 bvertically (in an upright position), with its both surfacessubstantially parallel to the vertical line by means of the retainer 9.

Though FIG. 12 illustrates the optical recording media 2 a, 2 b retainedby the retainer 9, stacked in their thickness direction at equalintervals, the recording media 2 a, 2 b may be retained with therecording media not stacked in their thickness direction. In such acase, microwave is radiated to the recording media effectively, thoughthe recording media to be mounted on the retainer 9 may decrease.

As shown in FIG. 10, the metal-separating device 7 of the presentembodiment has a loader 86 consisting of a belt conveyor in front of theoperation chamber 85, for conveying the optical recording media 2 a, 2 bretained by the retainer 9 into the operation chamber 85. The device 7further has an unloader 88 consisting of a belt conveyor in back of theoperation chamber 85, for conveying the optical recording media 2 a, 2 bretained by the retainer 9 out of the operation chamber 85. Further, aconveyor 87 is equipped within the operation chamber 85. The conveyor 87is a belt conveyor adapted to receive the recording media 2 a, 2 b fromthe loader 86, to adjust and fix locations of the media 2 a, 2 b in thechamber 85, and to deliver the media 2 a, 2 b to the unloader 88.

Then method of using the metal-separating device 7 of the presentembodiment will be described hereinafter.

Optical recording media 2 a, 2 b are set, each in the upright position,in the disk retainer 9 at a predetermined interval and the retainer 9,retaining the media 2 a, 2 b, is put on the loader 86.

The loader 86 is driven so as to convey the media 2 a, 2 b, togetherwith the retainer 9, into the chamber 85, whose front is open as thefront door 71 has moved upward.

The conveyor 87, receiving the media 2 a, 2 b from the loader 86, isdriven so as to locate the media 2 a, 2 b at predetermined positions inthe chamber 85. Then the front and the back doors 71, 72 are closed toset the chamber 85 in a closed state.

Both the gas valves 80, 82 are opened to introduce carbon dioxide gasinto the operation chamber 85 and to discharge air contained in thechamber by a pressure of the introduced gas (i.e., so-called “purgeoperation” is carried out). The gas valves 80, 82 are closed if theoxygen concentration in the chamber 85 has become below or equal to apredetermined level. A lean-oxygen state is maintained in the chamber85.

Then electric power is supplied to the microwave generator 75. Amicrowave generated in the generator 75 is branched via the branchingfilter into two microwaves, which are radiated into the chamber 85through the waveguides 76, 77. In this state, the two microwavesradiated into the chamber 85 have mutually different phases.

Simultaneously, the electric power is supplied to the magnetic fieldgenerator 70 so as to generate a magnetic field in the operation chamber85.

Intensities of the microwave and the electromagnetic field arecontrolled sequentially or stepwise by the intensity controllers 84, 83,respectively. Controls of these intensities are carried out by modifyingvoltages applied to the microwave generator 75 and the magnetic fieldgenerator sequentially or stepwise. A sequential or stepwisemodification in voltage makes a substantially sequential modification ofa portion radiated in a concentrated fashion by the microwave, so thatthe microwave acts substantially uniformly on all the optical recordingmedia 2 a, 2 b in the operation chamber 85.

The term “sequential or stepwise modification in voltage” includes astate in which no power is supplied.

Radiation of the microwave onto the optical recording media may cause aspark, but ignition is prevented and deterioration of plastics isreduced both by maintenance of the inner space of the operation chamberat low oxygen level.

The microwave generator in the subject embodiment has a maximum outputof 5 kw and an outputting frequency of 2.45 GHz. For disposing of theoptical recording media 2 a, 2 b, a microwave is radiated for fiveminutes with its output being varied within 0 to 5 kw in saw-toothfashion. Difference of lengths of the two waveguides 76, 77 issubstantially 60 mm.

The maximum output of the microwave is preferably 0.1 kw or more formelting metal portions of the optical recording media 2 a, 2 b so as toseparate the metal portions from plastic substrates. If the maximumoutput is below 0.1 kw, there is a high possibility that the microwavefails to melt the metal portions. On the other hand, an upper limit isnot required in the maximum output. However, the microwave generator maybe too bulky if the maximum output exceeds 5 kw. Also in the case, timeduration of microwave radiation should be regulated strictly because apart of the metal portions might be heated in a quite short time to anextremely high temperature that might cause deterioration of a plasticportion. However, the foregoing description does not prohibit employmentof a generator having a maximum output exceeding 5 kw.

Then, on completion of the operation on the optical recording media 2 a,2 b, radiation of the microwave and generation of the magnetic field areterminated. The law oxygen state is maintained for a while, so as toavoid deterioration of the plastic portions due to sudden exposure toair of the media 2 a, 2 b in elevated temperature as well as to avoidemission of vaporized metal into air.

After a predetermined time duration, the back door 72 of the operationchamber 85 is shifted upward to open the chamber 85. The conveyor 87 andthe unloader 88 are operated together to convey the optical recordingmedia 2 a, 2 b (after the operation) out of the chamber 85.

Plastic portions of the media 2 a, 2 b remaining in the retainer 9 andmetal that has flown into the tray 91 are to be recycled.

Though an embodiment of the metal-separating device 7 is heretoforedescribed, configuration of each portion is not limited to theembodiment.

For example, though in the embodiment the optical recording media 2 a, 2b are held by the retainer 9 at a substantially upright position, therecording media 2 a, 2 b may be held at a position having apredetermined angle (not parallel) to the horizontal plane.

The microwave radiators 73, 74 may be one that radiates a microwave notbranched. In this case, a microwave generator 75 such as a magnetron maybe positioned directly in the operation chamber 85 without a waveguide.

The magnetic field generator 70 may be composed of a plurality ofelectromagnets such as solenoid coils arranged so that their end facesare exposed to the inner space of the chamber 85. In this case, theelectromagnets are controlled discretely so that a desired elaboratemagnetic field is generated and so that a portion where a microwave or amagnetic field is concentrated is changed at will.

The lean-oxygen maintaining unit 78 may use an inert gas such asnitrogen gas instead of carbon dioxide gas and may maintain the innerspace of the operation chamber 85 at low oxygen concentration byintroducing the inert gas continuously into the chamber 85 with thechamber 85 open. Alternatively, the inner space of the chamber 85 may beevacuated to a vacuum state or a substantially vacuum state.

The microwave intensity controller 84 and the field intensity controller83 may control electric current supplied to the microwave generator 75and field generator 70, respectively. They may be controlledautomatically by a computer.

The above-described exemplary metal-separating device for the opticalrecording media is of an in-line type having a loader 86, an unloader88, and a conveyor 87. However, the device may be of a batch type like amicrowave oven in house, i.e., having an operation chamber 85 with asingle door, whereby optical recording media 2 a, 2 b held by the diskretainer 9 are manually set in the chamber 85 and subjected to anoperation after closure of the door and then the recording media 2 a, 2b are brought out after opening of the door.

In the above-described embodiment the conveyor 87 is not driven whilethe optical recording media 2 a, 2 b are under erasing operation.However, the conveyor 87 may be driven while the media are under theoperation, so that the media are mechanically moved during theoperation, because in some case, for example, in relation to a form ofthe operation chamber 85, the media should be moved mechanically so asto be treated to a higher grade.

An indicator for confirming data erasure is hereinafter described inreference to FIGS. 13 to 15. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of anindicator for confirming data erasure embodying the present invention.FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a stratified structureof the indicator shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a sectional view of avicinity of the displaying portion of the indicator shown in FIG. 13. Inthe illustrated example, the indicator 101 has a shape of a card with adisplaying portion 102 in the center of one surface thereof. Theindicator 101 can show a desired display on the displaying portion 102by means of a card writer (not shown) having a magnetic head. Theindicator is to be positioned in the vicinity of the recovery box. Forexample, a recovery box with the indicator put thereon is set into themagnetic-data erasing device. In another embodiment, a holder foraccommodating the indicator is in advance formed on the surface of therecovery box and the indicator is inserted into the holder before theerasing operation. In still another embodiment, the indicator is inadvance attached integrally to the surface of the recovery box by meansof, for example, sticking with paste.

The indicator 101 consists mainly of a transparent film layer 105, acore layer 106, and a magnetic body layer 107 adhesively bonded togetherby means of bonding layers (not illustrated). The transparent film layer105 is made of a transparent plastic film such as a transparent PET(polyethylene terephthalate) film. The core layer 106 is a plate-likesupport body for ensuring rigidity and may be made of a materialselected from various plastics, metals, and cardboards. As shown in FIG.13, the plate-like body forming the core layer 106 has a rectangularopening 110 at its center.

The magnetic body layer 107 consists of a base film having a magneticlayer (not illustrated) on one surface or either of two surfacesthereof. A cavity 111 is formed at a portion corresponding to theopening 110 of the core layer 106. In the cavity 111, a relatively smallamount of magnetic particles 112 are enclosed, being capable of movingfreely in the cavity 111.

A front side of the cavity 111 is covered with the transparent filmlayer 105, through which behavior of the magnetic particles 112 in thecavity 111 can be observed with human eyes.

By positioning the magnetic head (not illustrated) in the vicinity of aportion of the magnetic body layer 107 that corresponds to the reverseside of the displaying portion 102 of the indicator 101 and moving themagnetic head relative to the indicator 101, a particular part of themagnetic body layer 107 is magnetized so that the magnetized partpresents desired letter(s) or graphic pattern(s). Consequently, a numberof micromagnets corresponding to the pattern are formed in the magneticbody layer 107. Thus the micromagnets generate leakage flux, along whichthe magnetic particles 112 in the cavity 111 are aligned. Behavior ofthe magnetic particles 112 aligned along the pattern, which ismagnetized, is observable from outside through the transparent filmlayer 105.

Display on the displaying portion 102 disappears if and when themagnetism in the magnetic body layer 107 disappears. The magnetism inthe layer 107 disappears so as to change the display on the portion 102if and when the layer 107 is exposed to a more intense magnetic fieldthan that at the time of magnetization of the layer 107 to formmicromagnets by the magnetic head. This nature is used in inferringwhether an operation to render data recorded in data recording mediaunreadable is sufficiently carried out. If the display on the displayingportion 102 has disappeared after the operation for erasing magneticdata, it is inferred that the operation to render data recorded in thedata recording media unreadable is sufficiently carried out.

1. A method for disposing of a data recording means including at leastone medium selected from an optical recording medium and a magneticrecording medium, comprising the steps of: putting the data recordingmeans into a box; sealing the box; delivering the sealed box to anoperation site; and rendering data recorded in the data recording meansunreadable at the operation site by means of a data-readout-forbiddingapparatus with the box sealed.
 2. The method according to claim 1, thedata recording means comprising an optical recording medium, thedata-readout-forbidding apparatus comprising an optical-data destroyingdevice, the data recorded in the data recording means being renderedunreadable by destruction of the data recorded in the optical recordingmedium.
 3. The method according to claim 1, the data recording meanscomprising a magnetic recording medium, the data-readout-forbiddingapparatus comprising a magnetic-data erasing device, the data recordedin the data recording means being rendered unreadable by erasure of datarecorded in the magnetic recording medium.
 4. A method for disposing ofa data recording means comprising both an optical recording medium and amagnetic recording medium, comprising the steps of: putting the datarecording means into a box; sealing the box; delivering the sealed boxto an operation site; destroying data recorded in the optical recordingmedium at the operation site by means of an optical-data destroyingdevice with the box sealed; and erasing data recorded in the magneticrecording medium by means of a magnetic-data erasing devicesimultaneously with the step of destroying data recorded in the opticalrecording medium.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein theoptical-data destroying device and the magnetic-data erasing device arecombined to form an integrated apparatus for disposing of the datarecording means.
 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step oferasing magnetic data is performed with an indicator positioned in thevicinity of the box, the indicator having a displaying portion thatchanges its displaying status on exposure to a magnetic field having anintensity equal to or exceeding a predetermined intensity.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the step of sealing the box is performedby attaching a seal-determining sheet onto the box for determiningbreakage of the seal.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein thestep of sealing the box is performed by locking up the box.
 9. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the step of sealing the box isperformed by locking up the box and by attaching a seal-determiningsheet onto the box for determining breakage of the seal.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the below-listed steps afterrendering the data unreadable: opening the sealed box; separating thedata recording means into fragments according to materials; sorting thefragments according to materials; and producing recycled raw materialsby exerting an operation consisting of at least one of crushing, fusionand dissolution on at least part of the sorted fragments.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the step of separating the data recordingmeans involves a step of separating an optical recording medium, andwherein the step of separating the optical recording medium includesheating a metal part of the optical recording medium by ametal-separating device adapted to radiate a microwave so as to separatethe metal part from a plastic part.
 12. The method according to claim11, wherein the metal-separating device is adapted to radiate amicrowave with a maximum output of 0.1 kW or more.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the metal-separating device is adapted toradiate a microwave with a maximum output of 5 kW or less.
 14. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein the step of separating the datarecording means involves a step of separating an optical recordingmedium, and wherein the step of separating the optical recording mediumcomprises scraping off a metal part of the optical recording medium bymeans of a scraper.
 15. A method for disposing of a data recordingmeans, the means comprising a data recording paper containing thereoninformation to be disposed of, comprising the steps of: putting the datarecording paper into a box; sealing the box; delivering the sealed boxto an operation site; and dissolving at the operation site the boxtogether with the data recording paper contained therein, with the boxsealed.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a stepof refining the dissolved data recording paper and the dissolved box soas to form a recycled material.
 17. The method according to claim 15,wherein the step of sealing the box is performed by attaching aseal-determining sheet onto the box.
 18. The (currently amended) methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the step of sealing the box is performedby merely closing the box.
 19. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising steps of: putting the sealed box into a lockable carryingcase and locking up the carrying case; delivering (1) the carrying casecontaining the sealed box and (2) a key for releasing lock of thecarrying case separately to an operation site; and taking out the sealedbox by releasing the lock of the carrying case by means of the key. 20.The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of issuing acertificate showing completion of disposal of the data recording meansfrom the operation site to a source of delivery.
 21. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the steps of putting the data recordingmeans into the box and sealing the box are performed by a client whoasked disposal of the data recording means, and wherein the step ofdelivering the sealed box to the operation site is performed by (1) theclient, (2) one who is asked for the disposal by the client, or (3) onewho is asked for the delivery by either of the former ones.
 22. Themethod according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: puttingthe sealed box into a lockable carrying case and locking up the carryingcase; delivering (1) the carrying case containing the sealed box and (2)a key for releasing lock of the carrying case separately to an operationsite; and taking out the sealed box by releasing the lock of thecarrying case by means of the key.
 23. The method according to claim 15,further comprising the step of issuing a certificate showing completionof disposal of the data recording means from the operation site to asource of delivery.
 24. The method according to claim 15, wherein thesteps of putting the data recording means into the box and sealing thebox are performed by a client who asked disposal of the data recordingmeans, and wherein the step of delivering the sealed box to theoperation site is performed by (1) the client, (2) one who is asked forthe disposal by the client, or (3) one who is asked for the delivery byeither of the former ones.